Spigot fixture and soap dish for bathtubs



Aug. 26 1924. v

R. w. THOMAS SPIGOT FIXTURE AND SOAP DISH FOR BATI-I'IUBS l' iled Jan. 26, 1924 Patented Aug. 26, 1924. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH W. THOMAS, 01' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SPIGOT FIXTURE AND SOAP DISH FOB BATH'I'UBS.

Application filed January 28, 1924. Serial No. 688,869.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, RALPH W. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the count State of California, ave invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Spi t Fixtures and Soap ishes for Bathtu and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a fixture for bath tubs.

An object is to provide a novel construction wherein the valve or valves may be operated by one lying in the tub and through manipulation of the big'toe or toes to the end that the bather while in such position may readily control the temperature of the water by admitting hot or cold Water as the case may be without assuming a sitting or standing position.

Another object is to provide a structure carrying out the end last mentioned which has a depending arm movable from a horizontal axis and having its opposite surfaces dished so that either surface may be enga ed by the big toe.

nother object is to provide in connection with such a structure or a fixture generally, a novel form of soap dish which ma be an integral part of the fixture and w ich is so constructed as to drain to the end that it will not contain water to unnecessarily dissolve and waste the soap and which is further so constructed as to discharge the water without contact with the fixture so that the latter may be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

With the above and additional objects, such as will appear hereinafter, in view, the invention has been embodied in one form as illustrated in accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of the article in side elevation, partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the article;

F'i ure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the hue 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on.

the line 5-5 of Fi re 3.

Like reference c aracters designate like or similar parts the different views.

of Los Angeles and In carrying out the invention, the fixture has a metallic casting generally designated which has a transverse conduit 11 in the ends of which cutoff valves 12 of any appropriate form are disposed for operation on a horizontal axis to control the inlet' of water to the conduit 11 as through nipples 13 and its escape from the conduit 11 through a commondischarge nozzle 14. The fixture is preferably used in connection with a bath tub and one of the nipples 13 is connected with a source of hot water supply and the other of which is connected with a source of cold or normal temperature water supply.

referably removably but rigidly connected with the valves 12 and depending therefrom are operating arms generally designated 15. T ese arms may be of any appropriate general confi ration such as an oval as shown and they ave their opposite surfaces dished as at 16 and 17, The dish 16 conforms in shape substantially to the bottom surface of the bi toe while the dish 17 conforms substantial y in shape to the top surface of the same toe.

The handle 15 as described is adapted to be rocked while the bath tub is occupied and the bather is lying in the tub facing the fixture; The big toe of one foot is used to actuate the arm 15 to the left while the big toe of the opposite foot is arranged to actuate the arm 15 at the right. In order to open the valves 12, to admit water to the tub through the nozzle 14, the big toes are placed in the dishes 16 and pressure is exerted to move the arms gaway from the bather. In order to close the nozzle 14, the toes are applied in the dishes 17 and pulled toward the bather so as to close the valves. The operation of these valves may obviously be the reverse if desired. This feature is especially advantageous since the bather while on his back does not have to assume a sittin or standing position in order to control t e temperature of the water by jointly manipulat' the valves or manipulating them indivi ually as required.

The casting 10 further includes a soap dish 18 which has a bottom wall 19 and a marginal upstanding wall 20 whose endsmerge into conduit 10 sothat the latter in efi'ect serves as 1part of the marginal wall. Said bottom wal 19 has a depression 21 longitudinally thereof and midway of its sides. which is perforated at 22 to facilitate the drainage of water from soap placed in the dish. Particular attention is called to the fact that the depression is located outwardly a distance from the conduit 10 and nozzle 14 and that its outer or under surface is curved as shown so that draining water cannot engage the nozzle 14 or other part of the fixture and hence the fixture may be kept at all times in a clean and sanitary condition. This also avoids undue dissolving and waste of the soap such as occurs when it stands in a soap dish devoid of a drain.

Changes may be resorted to provided they fall. within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A water supply fixture for bath tubs and the like having a control valve, an operating member therefor depending therefrom, and said member having its opposite surfaces dished to substantially conform to the opposite surfaces of the human toe to facilitate clperation thereby.

2. water supply fixture for bath tubs and the like having a control valve movable on substantially a horizontal axis, an arm depending from the valve of substantially oval shape, and said arm having its opposite surfaces differently dished according to the opposite surfaces of the human toe for engagement and operation thereby.

3. A water supply fixture for bath tubs and the like having valves to control the inlet of water at different temperatures, each valve having 3. depending arm for manipulation by toes of different feet, said valves being movable on a horizontal axis, and the opposite surfaces of said arms beingdished to conform to the portions of the toes adapted to engage the same. 7

at. A fixture of the class described having water outlet means, a soap dish forming part of the fixture, and said soap dish having draining means arranged to discharge the water away from and out of contact with the discharge means.

5. A fixture of the class described having a conduit and discharge means depending therefrom, a soap dish integral with said conduit and provided with an upstanding wall merging thereinto at its ends, the bottom wall of the soap dish having a depression at a distance from the discharge means, and said depression having a drain opening, whereby the Water will be discharged at a distance from the discharge means, and the under surface of said depression being substantially convex for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH WV. THOMAS. Witnesses:

C. P. GRAGG, QMER P. FISHER. 

